ACHP Episode 430 We Broke The Code

Episode Summary

Episode 430 of A Cigar Hustler's Podcast finds Mike Palmer, Mikey and engineer Bert running through their usual mix of world news oddities, sports drama and the week's biggest cigar industry stories. The non-cigar half of the show covers Orlando International Airport's new 90-day facial recognition pilot program at international departure gates (and whether it's really about efficiency or deterrence), the viral — and false — claim that the IRS is sending every American a $2,000 December direct deposit, and a lengthy, very off-color deep dive into the legendary "loofah code" said to be used on golf carts in The Villages retirement community in central Florida. Sports coverage focuses on the firing and subsequent arraignment of former University of Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore on home invasion, stalking and breaking-and-entering charges stemming from an on-campus relationship, plus a tangent on the 50 Cent-produced Diddy documentary series on Netflix.

The cigar news segment starts with good news for Indiana smokers: the Fort Wayne City Council approved an ordinance 8-1 permitting new cigar lounges in the city, subject to five requirements including age limits, a liquor/beer/wine permit, cigar-only smoking, and at least 20% of gross income from cigar sales and on-site humidor rentals — a sign that legislators are increasingly distinguishing cigars from cigarettes and vaping. The guys also reminisce about finding Riverside Cigars in Jeffersonville, Indiana while traveling in Kentucky.

Next up is Viaje's new One of One line, arriving December 19th in three vitolas (Tailwind 6 3/4 x 52, Bulwark 6 x 56 and Outer Edge 5 1/4 x 54) in 30-count boxes, with fewer than 200 boxes of each size and — true to Viaje form — no disclosed blend details or factory. Notably, Viaje set no MSRP, leaving pricing to individual retailers, with early listings around $26–$27 per cigar. The hosts also break down the news that Joya de Nicaragua and Quesada are reuniting through SAG Imports as a joint venture between the Quesada and Martínez families, ending Joya's long run with Drew Estate as its U.S. distributor, and speculate about who walked away from whom and whether Joya got lost in Drew Estate's portfolio.

The show closes with "What's the Score?", where the hosts guess halfscore review ratings from clues. The first cigar is the Black Works Studio Killer Bee Connecticut Pyramid (5 x 54, Ecuadorian Connecticut and Maduro wrapper, Nicaraguan Habano binder, Nicaraguan filler, $13, made at Fábrica Oveja Negra), which scored an 89. The second is a 2010 review of the Davidoff Zino Chateau Robusto from the Dominican Republic, a cigar the reviewer utterly savaged for overwhelming bitterness — it landed at a 48.

In This Episode

1. 01
   Orlando Airport Facial Recognition Pilot
   The hosts debate MCO's new 90-day facial recognition test at international departure gates and whether it's about speed or security deterrence.
2. 02
   Cracking The Villages' Loofah Code
   A long, raunchy breakdown of the color-coded loofahs allegedly hanging from golf carts in Florida's Villages retirement community.
3. 03
   ACHP Sports: Sherrone Moore Charged
   The fired University of Michigan football coach is arraigned on home invasion, stalking and breaking-and-entering charges after losing $12.3 million in remaining contract.
4. 04
   The Fake $2,000 IRS December Payment
   Why viral posts about a nationwide $2,000 direct deposit are wrong, and what those late-2025 IRS deposits actually are.
5. 05
   Fort Wayne, Indiana Approves Cigar Lounges
   City Council passes an 8-1 ordinance allowing cigar lounges under five specific requirements, pending the mayor's signature.
6. 06
   Viaje One of One Release
   Three vitolas, fewer than 200 boxes each, no disclosed blend or factory, and no MSRP — retailers set their own pricing around $26–$27.
7. 07
   Joya de Nicaragua & Quesada Reunite Under SAG Imports
   The two families form a joint U.S. distribution venture as Joya's Drew Estate distribution agreement ends this month.
8. 08
   What's the Score?
   Guessing review scores for the Black Works Studio Killer Bee Connecticut Pyramid (89) and a brutally panned 2010 Davidoff Zino Chateau (48).

Brands & Cigars Discussed

Linked items are in our shop. Mentions without a link aren’t currently stocked or couldn’t be matched with confidence.

Transcript

- Welcome to the Cigar Aso Podcast, now with a new show, Everwood Day at 5AM. I'm your host, Mike Palmer, and along with our engineer, Brute Candy Cane Hibbelhauser, we bring you the new, in the world, we bring you the new, in the world, we bring you, The new in the world as well as the Samara Streets. That didn't flow well at all, did it, eh? That was me, I read better when you said...

Hey, Bert, how you doing? Hey, hi, dudes. Hi. How are you?

Candy. I like candy. Candy. I.

A. seizure, we have cracked the code with the loofahs. A college coach was let go and then went where he wasn't welcomed. The IRS starts making synonymous ballots, that's with a question, huh?

And then in Cigar News, more Midwest Cigar shops be eyeing us just one of one and Hoya and Quezada join forces. " But not to be forgotten, my co-host, a man who entrances the standing room morning ruin in sports, Mikey, sit your ass down, old man, step on catch. Oh, Michael? I don't make anybody sit there and sit there and ask them.

My son stands the whole time. No, your son does, but you made the man sit down, like sit down and run and kick your oars. I will make him sit down, oh, he goes still the hotel and he's behind, it makes no difference. But he moved over and sat down.

He's still the hotel. I thought he changed his wife and he went and sat down. Oh, he moved, yeah, but he never, he never, he was never standing. My son was standing there.

I know he was standing. He was never standing. I knew he wasn't. Okay.

Hi. All right, hello. I didn't get some of those CH-Pod swearing, Michael. com, or, even better, over here, right here in this area, there should be a shop button, click that shop button, and then you'll see some of the left side right there, the Polesanya SBC, the AECU shirt, we have one left, and then it's gonna be sunsetted, so that's gonna be gone, it's all done.

com and don't click that link, it's buy one, get one 40% off, but if you click that link, just buy one shirt and be happy about it, because I'd like to see somebody buy the shirt on our Shopify account. Also, like and subscribe, so we're around both of us, or so we're here? Over here? Yeah, there, yeah, yeah, they're right there.

Automatically, I don't enjoy doing it? No, yeah, it's been on there, it's been on there all week. Oh, all week, Thursdays, Monday. All last week.

Well, it's kind of a lie, it's been on there for quite four days. com. Like and subscribe, excuse me, the head of this root beer. Like and subscribe wherever you're watching, and we appreciate you.

You want to tell us what's on the Patreon today, Macca? I mean, we have you? Sure, today we have a hybrid, especially in that we just got in. Oh.

And I wanted to get your feedback on it. Oh. Well, I guess since you're in the building. I'm here.

This has officially arrived. I didn't hear the slack. Did we release the Beanie yet? We haven't released the blah, okay.

I got stuck with another task, unfortunately, this week. I was actually gonna text you all week. Dude, it was in the back of my mind that it had to be done. It just didn't happen.

Um, but yes, I will get the B for you, sir. I'm on. I'm on. Perfect.

That has to be released. That's a good release. Yes. Wintertime, now is the time to go.

Yeah, I've been in, uh, Dakota, or wherever I moved, who's the race car guy? Indiana? Is that Indiana? That's California, the race car guy.

Ah, race car guy? Oh, race car guy? Oh, there was a guy, Barry, is Miami? Is that in Indiana?

Uh, yeah, I think so. Barry, well, I mean, bang, he could probably use a beta, he says it's getting cold there. He's, uh, like, way up in the corner or somewhere, he's north-north. He's well being cool?

Yeah, somewhere where it's really cold, I don't know. Right here, let me hand you over, well, Paul, let me know I'm in hand, uh, alright, now we're moving into the world news while they're switching the controls, so I'll, er, stall, so we get everything set up over there. Alright. Alright, we're set up.

Holiday Traveler is the worst, and an attempt to streamline the problems of Orlando has been chosen as one of the test locations for a new program. Of course it has. Orlando Air Board is testing facial recognition. Woo.

Here's what I'll do. But you need to know if you're flying internationally out of Orlando, you have noticed something new at the gate. Orlando International has officially willed out a facial recognition pilot program, and over the next 90 days, they're putting it to the test. The idea is simple: move people faster without sacrificing security, instead of handing over a passport and boarding pass at certain international departure gates.

Passengers can walk up to a camera system, scans their faces, makes that noise, actually, and matches it to a government record already on file. If everything lines up, you've cleared the board, no paperwork, no extra steps, no passport needed. I love it. Where after your face is shamed from your passport, though?

When your passport thought it was good for 10 years now? Listen, no system is perfect, Frank. I've been, I've been about to, this is what I'm talking about. You've already been facially skinned?

Yeah. Mm-hmm. What did you ask me? You were about to see some techie?

It was on the phone. Oh, yeah, right. Nah, he's just, he was, he was watching the show, he's like, you know. Well, I was looking at, um, Palmer's screen, and it was kind of like, the light in the background, or it's like, uh, liney.

Yeah. Yeah, I think that, oh, that too. Yeah. Sorry, it's just, I'm just mirroring, it's fine, it's something with the HD mind line, if I had it.

Yeah, no, I've been a part of this, this is kind of cool. It was super quick. Oh, you did a thing coming in. Oh, global entry.

Yep. That's a little different. That's a separate program. Yeah.

Oh, it's a separate program. Yeah, this will be at the gate as you leave. No more printing out your ID. Oh, that's even more convenient.

'Cause it's so hard to, like, fumble through everything while you're trying to get on a plane. You might ask the fool what you're bringing on. That's what the article said. " You know, I don't, well, you don't have it on read as far as TSA is concerned.

No, at the gate, when they do the extra check at the gate for international. Oh, okay. Got it. S.

Customs and Border Protection along with multiple technology providers. Airport officials are using this trial period to compare systems, measure accuracy, and see how the tech performs in rear-waring conditions with heavy passenger traffic. Participation is not mandatory. D.

Check. That option will remain available during the test. Airport leaders say the goal is cutting down boarding delays, reducing congestion, and preparing for continued growth on international travel. Aranda is one of the busiest airports in the country, and officials that technology like this could help keep things moving as passenger numbers climb.

So you think it's a good thing, or anything's about it? I don't see a problem with the area of my photo wing. It's not like, you know, this is making me accessible to their system, may already happen, when you get a passport, they scan it, and it's on file only. Right.

Because when you come back, the guy scans your passport, and you put your pops up on his screen. Right. No, definitely just AI is verifying you. Okay, what about you, do you think this is a good idea?

I think it was already being done, yeah. You know, so this is just, visually, Joya, give it a list. I think this is more of a deterrence than a speed-up. I think the speed-up is the excuse, right?

" But I think this is more of like an anti-terrorism deterrence, to be honest. How's that anti-terrorism? Yeah, how does this make things better? So here, obviously, a deterrence is going to be a step to try to prevent something, right?

So if they're out there, they're just throwing a camera, right, that's saying, "Hey, we're taking your picture, and we know who you are," right, is going through a database, you know, they may not go, "Okay, well, let's get on the plane," and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Opposed to me showing them my picture, and a human looks at my picture in me? Moody? Yeah.

He has a doodly or not up that's in place as anti-terrorism, you just don't know him. If there was only a person looking at the photo, I could sneak on the plane if they were just checking instead of- Dammit, the computer would know I don't look like the man in the photo. Four ruled again. It sounds like it's just an efficiency thing to me.

Yeah, me too, it was worth doing first. I think it's fine, though. I don't have a problem with it. They're not a problem.

Yeah, yeah. When they scan your license at TSA, is your picture coming up on the screen in your tail? Or they're just seeing that it's a real IB. Alright, obviously for the facial recognition versus your...

Sometimes something happens because the guy had a camera on you, right? So where was that bringing step related to the right? Right, exactly. Come closer, come closer, come closer, back up, back up, back up, back up, back up.

Too far, too far, too far. Turn left. No, they are your left, not my left. Right.

Okay. Just have a knife for those minimum wage TSA people. Well, oh, TSA. All right, whether you see this convenience or concern, one thing is query this 90-day test, how it could shape how airport tunnel identity check in the future, not just in Orlando, but nationwide.

Where is the test market for this stuff? When they did clear, that was done in... Three or four different airports, you have three or four different programs? Yeah.

And then, you picked one. I mean, do you blame them? No. I mean, you always say, we're one of the busiest airports in the country.

Right. Makes sense. Makes sense. I do it where it's gonna get all the impact.

It's just like anything else, you know? You test it, and then you see all it's just like cancer drugs and all of those stuff, you know? Well, I don't want to take a cancer drug to get on the plane, that's it. No, you don't, you don't, but however, you know, normally you'll hear, well, this is a trial of the drug, right?

Right, right. That's because they're testing it out, they need to get data, or I want a massive member to determine if it's effective or not. Most of you, if you have cancer, you like to sign up for the trials, and what else you got to lose? Sometimes, yeah.

Right. Hmm. The cancer is where you have to lose. Or I would like to lose that if I had it.

Yeah, that's where you have to lose. Right. Alright, we have cracked the code. We have.

We have cracked the code. Okay. And we have full access. In the heart of central Florida, this is a picture-perfect retirement journey that looks quiet by day, but by night, it fuels one of the state's most persistent rumors.

The Villages? The Villages is known for golf carts, happy hours, social problems, but long-time residents and curious outsiders like, whisper about a hidden milestone. About a hidden lifestyle operating just beneath the surface. What Ray Stokes' intrigue are the colored roofers hanging from the golf coats.

To the uninitiated eye, they're harnessed bat accessories to those in the know that were to be coded signal system. Quietly advertising interest of variability or curiosity about the village's more adventurous social sea. Whether in fact, exaggeration, or folklore, the Lufa code has become legend. Stories travel fast, here are the brains in a parking lot, a chat at a happy hour, and suddenly I even speculate, some residents laugh it off as bored gossip, others he says it's a real, if discreet, part of the village culture.

True or not, the river is a real something universal, you win retirement, people require connection, excitement, and we're in Woostery, and in this central Florida village, a simple loofah may say noer than words ever could, and we have cracked the loofah code. Eh? Boos, you know the code, is it code? Uh, no, I don't know, I guess we know now, but...

Now we know, we know what they mean now. Alright, it's a white loose, what is happening, you guys wanna guess these? Yeah, yeah, I want boots to guess. Oh my gosh.

What's the white would mean boots? Neutral. White probably means that... Well, you know what, here, yo, we're just standard...

Very close, gentlemen, the beginners. Vanga, we're due to this. We're new to this, this is why we would crack. Please be gentle.

Be gentle. Alright, purple. The purple, that sounds weird to me. Okay, what do you mean?

Okay, that's close, Bert. Yeah, like a Barney's heart type, you know. I'm not aware, aren't you? Oh, like, man.

I was specific, you know, like stuff to handle, like, Justinev. Sweet. All a side note, the original Barney guy is now a sex therapist, and he attributes his knowledge to the "I love you, we love me" that he started with the Barney thing. Really?

Yes. And people pay money to have him have sex with them? Nuh-uh. Barney?

Yes, he's a weird sex therapist. Oh, so he's like, uh, oh, he handsome. So this guy also has a purple loofah? No, no.

Well, he could, but I doubt it could be a purple loofah. I don't think he's purple. Or if, uh, did this guy had a purple loofah? It wasn't around kids.

This guy's a purple loofah. Well, not in the beginning, but since he has been Barney Knight. It's been several years. Have you seen a bit better end of these guys?

You know, Barney, the Blue's Clues guy. Hey, Blue's Clues is fine. What'd he be here to? No, I thought Steve got in trouble.

-No, Stu didn't get in trouble. -The original Stu? -No, he's doing it again. He's just bald-mouthed.

-Wow. I thought Stu got in trouble, Russ. -No, no, Stu did not get in trouble. Don't stop at, uh, Pee-wee Herman, Luis Calo.

-Why, Pee-wee Herman, you don't see it. He liked to go to the movies and at least the royals of this dope base. -Not sure there were more children. -Was it Ernest?

Like, wasn't his son of Ernest? -You're not bad, not Ernest, he's dead. -I love Ernest. I love Ernest.

Ernest goes to King. -Yeah. Ernest Curse of the Mean, Err, Azai? Yeah, thank you, Abbey, well, all right, so, Purple.

Plus, what was the boy you like to watch? Oh, wow. It was definitely possible about it. Well, no, I mean, you like to watch other people, not like, you watch, I mean, I guess you could watch your own life, but it's more like, I do like to watch other people have sex.

Got it. Hey, Peek! Boots? It was Purple's the...

It was a boy you like to watch, yeah. I think would probably, maybe, you are, I don't fucking know. Multiple female run on the, uh, soft swap, oh sorry, soft swap, yes, we kinda knew into it and maybe you're not comfortable, okay, I guess that would be soft, and then blue, no old burn, yeah, where else I got, I said, where you're in blue, middle level, you're selective, so that's it? selective okay and yellow is mid-level you're curious but you're cautious cows i'm a wet that be yeah no kidding yellow white the black black's already go apparently it's full swap no limits no hesitations whoever walks up to you you just just just going right at having at it having on it and then teal this is the nice one this must be like the super extreme like uh do to my wife This is the bisexual, Ruey Deer, Bi, Em, Or, Er, Wals, Bisexual, Rue, like, Man, And, Lin.

Send me resonance, but the workers on their golf cart thinking it's just a decoration. But all sorts of confusion is happening, people get upset. So if you live in the villages, make sure you know what kind of advertising you are doing. Come on, man, you really think a normal decoration on a golf cart is a louver?

Yes. Yes, but okay, we say, you move to the villages, they don't advertise this when they sell you a house, they sell you, it's not, hey, by the way, we have all the jeezes here, if you'd like to pick one out for the home, feel free with the magic, right, or so you see, wait, so you see all the golf carts driving around, you know, and the life goes, oh no, I like the pink one, let's put the pink one on our golf cart, you know, not thinking it means anything, it's a, it's a villages thing, and it was very, I knew where the pink people weren't available. But next thing you know, some guys work up to you go, hey, I'd like to fuck you up, you remember much? That's awful.

Me and Rick? Oh, that's what you said. Well, yes, I mean, I did, but you know, we're, we're, we're, just, gently. But, gently, I'd like to just get a little bang for his father, may I?

What was that? Oh, you have a black one? No, I could put both of you or, or, well, this guy's really weird, you got a multicolored one. Ray, he got all in the other guy.

Oh, that guy. He's the DJ for the Virges. He has all of them on the title of his golf cart. Foda B-J-J-J-H-T-C.

Na, ma, birds. But Mary is his chadri-soul, new leaders in the past. Yeah. See Kufis up to that.

All right, all the black heroes, fun. He's gonna get the black glue for a night, uh, like a bouquet toss, yeah. All right, now there are ACHP sports. Okay.

Boran Michigan football coach charged with a crime after he was fired. Yes, this is a disaster. Ex-University Michigan football coach Sharona Moore was arraigned on three charges just today for crimes allegedly committed hours after the school firing. Bus security charged Moore with felony third-degree home invasion as well as stalking in a domestic relationship and breaking and entering.

Both misdemears. 3 million remained on his contract. Ooh. So you can't date inside the school system?

No, so much if you're married. Oh, was he married? They didn't say he was? No, well, yeah, no, you're not allowed to, no, you're not allowed to.

Ah, there was no sexual assault charges there, right? Uh, no. This was consensual. No, no, it was a break in mentoring the stuff, where apparently, well, the school probably charged him with the...

Well, she routed him out, yeah, a bad route, okay, like, you can read the news article. But I don't know the story, and I'm still trying to explain it, now you're cutting me off like he does, oh, perfect, oh yeah. So, from what I understand, just from what I saw on Instagram and these other social media platforms, is that the air girl broke it off, and he kind of went crazy, and broke into her house, and had the butter knife to his neck, And he said, allegedly, of course, I said, yeah, like, you know, I'm going to, you know, this is what you do to me, I don't know, something like that. Who knows?

But yeah, he was like, he went off the deep end, allegedly. Pressier's claim that after being terminated, he barged his way into the apartment of the woman who he had been involved for a number of years before she broke up with him in a foreign school, prompting his dismissal and threatened to kill himself. There it is. Oh, I put the butter knife to his own throat.

Yeah. Oh. I thought it would protect her throat. No.

How do I live without you? Yeah, what? I mean, how dangerous is the butter knife ending? How many do you do yourself out of there?

How many do you kill some of them? Well, you still do yourself with butter knives. It's on your throat. I mean, you might have to saw a little bit if you're going to do your worst.

I'll jam it. Well, all right. I mean, what do you kill yourself with a stick if you're just going to jam it? I mean, this guy was an alleged leader of men.

I mean, this guy was a coach. And this is the only one that he's ever been with? No, other than his race. He was married.

3 million now. Right. What do we do? Well, in Luford, does she have him?

But she has us, is it too? Oh, yeah, apparently. Well, then he could have bought the wife in on it, and then we're in fine. The wife wouldn't consent.

3 million now, isn't it? Well, she already had that. 3 coming. Now she's gotta find another coach.

Breit? Yeah, inside. Is she part of the deal in the sign of the counter? Hey, listen, we're gonna need you to take this week, sir, uh, Mr.

C, how's your camera? On the wishes, uh, you know, the football chick. You know, I ask her all those. She likes football games?

Yeah, well, the chicks are like, you know, the wife or the affair? No, the affair, buddy. Oh, well, she broke it off. " I was usually gonna start banging a quarterback, or run a bad girl.

Oh. I like that he had no idea about any of this stuff he was kinda slaying garbage as I am. Yeah, I'm actually gonna bang Widersman over high school football. 3 on the table for a high school coach.

No. I mean, I don't know a lot about sports, but that seems like he's still overpaid. No, is that actually college? No, it's high school.

Oh. Oh. For college, it's probably... Oh yeah, and especially for Michigan, we are for that, so yeah, yeah, I think it's, eh, that's not one year, obviously, it's probably whatever time he had left on his contract, you've been surprised that some of these guys get paid annually, why, for con?

Well, you've definitely got paid more than that per year. Yeah. Hmm, hmm, all right, so what else happened with Mr. Moore?

Is that what I was saying? Uh, they've already killed himself, I've had stolen his car, you know, it was his interest. Yeah, he's a gem. Oh yeah, he's in jail.

There's a picture of him, in jail, in solitary confinement. We talk in time. The only did you charge or whatever? Oh, no, not Diddy.

Um, Parkin' Diddy. I finished the series last line. The Zoom? Sure.

How was it? Oh, it was great. It's good. I can't wait till the other episodes go out.

Oh, there's more episodes? Yeah, it's only four right now. But there's like a thing going on, uh, because, you know, Diddy has had his people send fewer flowers to 50 and, you know, like, there's a whole thing going on, so I don't know if they're gonna release the others or what. If you don't mean 50 doesn't release it.

I don't think 50's worried because he's sending flowers. That was pretty. That was nice. But if you watch his four episodes, you start worrying like Diddy is a...

He's the killer. I love you. I love you, but. I just want you to know.

That was brutal on the Cigarist Podcast. I just want you to know. If 50 Cent had an untimed demise, that would be one of the saddest things I've ever heard. because that guy is a national treasure for this country.

Did he send? Yes, he's absolutely amazing. Yeah, that, listen, and I saw this son gets killed in this whole time soon? Yeah.

Did he kill T-Pop? Well, I already believe that he did. You already had that? Oh, yeah, but it's a little better.

That series has already been kind of munched at, or, you know, and a couple of other guys. You good though, bud? Yeah, I don't know, I'm not familiar with these stars. Okay.

I mean, I know where everybody is. Okay. But I didn't know that Diddy killed Tupac. That's all a legend.

Oh, yeah. Okay. I thought you didn't say, "You gotta watch this documentary, Palmer, you might work--" It was on during the Espinosa thing, I saw bits and pieces of it. All the pictures are green and everything.

It's on Netflix. I know, what Netflix is on here? I wouldn't know who's taking the videos. Is it these kids?

I know, he's somebody with meta-eyed breasts. This is before the beer. This is beer. Give me those no before anything, huh?

He does have a lot, look. Alright, buddy, what he doesn't have? He doesn't have $2,000 coming from the IRS. Oh, all of us?

No. All drill of the payments dates in full claim and guide. There is no official confirmation from the Internal Wevenue Service and a new nationwide $2,000 direct deposit payment has been approved for December 25. Despite viral posts and misleading headlines online, the IRS has not announced a blanketed stimulus bonus check or itemized printed of $2,000 for all Americans.

However, main taxpayers may still receive IRS deposits close to $2,000 during late 2025. Visa payments are used with regular tax refunds, corrections, or delayed credits, not a new stimulus program. Understanding the difference is essential to avoid confusion and scams. The $2,000 figure is appearing online mainly because all of avid refund amounts that often range between $1,500 to $2,500 for many households, confusion with past stimulus checks and proposed but unapproved payment ideals, tax exposure, CD refunds, amended return payouts, or credits adjusted near the end of the year.

So there's not a check coming, they're just playing catch-up on money they owe people, well, Jeff, the average check is $2,000, the same amount everybody's assuming that the stimulus check will be. You know, we had already mentioned this before in the past, I don't think too though. We mentioned that it really wasn't coming, but this, but it has circulated back through the media again, because now they're making these payments to people. Good Lord, again, this thing is true.

Right. Sure I told you, you know. Haha, I still don't have enough money to pair it or buy you $2,000. - $2,000.

- Hang out there, print the money. - But they don't print the borr, they just see the oil referral all the time. - That's why our dollars take out the money out. - They take out the money out.

- But the pains. - What, oh, okay. - And I change the rename? - Sure.

- Everything else we get within? - As they were taking one penny out, they prayer to Benjamin. - Alright, let's hear what, $7 trillion, $7 trillion, you know the T with a T. - I don't understand why we loan the money to everybody.

We're like, take a loan from another country. Does it make any sense? That's why we do's make more? Oh, I don't know.

Yeah, I'm like, oh, guess where it disappeared. You're not gonna believe how it sounds. 80 trillion dollars. It was in the back under the carpet.

We didn't know. So wild. So stretched. Hmm.

Okay. Alright, now into Cigarineers, Mike, over in Emerson. Oh, Cigarineer. Four away in Indiana, City Council approves the Cigar Lounges ordinance or rates Mayor's signature.

This is a human. This is, yeah, but we found out this week, or last week, what happened with the mayor's signature. This is a TV. Oh, I do have a story.

About the $3,000 signature? No. You're opening a shop in Fort Wayne in the inning? Nope.

Nope. All right. At its meeting on Tuesday, the Fort Wayne City Council approved an ordinance that will allow for the opening of new cigarette lounges in the city. In order to meet the definition of the cigarette lounge, a business must meet five requirements.

It must prohibit entry to any person under 20 years of age. The owner or operator of the business must hold a deer, liquor, or wine retailer's permit, but must not operate as a restaurant where food and beverage sales equal or exceed 60% of the business's annual gross income. The business must limit smoking in the establishment to cigar smoking. After a year of operation, the business must generate at least 20% of its gross income from the sale of cigars and the rental on-site humidors.

They must be the posting of conspicuous signs that disclose the message that cigarette smuggling is prohibited. The ordinance passed by an 8-1 vote. Oh, nice. The bill was still needing to be signed by Mayor Sharon Tucker before it can go into effect, though it will be in effect upon her approval.

Fort Wayne is located in northeastern part of the state and is home to approximately 273,000 residents. Oh. I bet she vetoes it. You think she does?

Do we know if she has had cancer and was addicted to cigarettes and/or vaping? You know, I can't be okay with this because I used to smoke cigarettes. Right. Right.

Well, you know what, ma'am? You could not smoke cigarettes in these lounges, so you're okay. Yeah, you know, this is a good sign. That means that there are people that are properly acknowledging the fact that cigars are not the same as cigarettes or vaping or anything else.

Cigars are totally different. So eight to one, too. It's not like it was even a close. Yeah, it wasn't even, it wasn't even like, uh, wasn't like a 50-50 or just some old curmudgeony Karen lady, uh, didn't like it.

Who's the one guy? That's what I want to know. Who's the one guy that said no? The one lady on the board.

Yeah. It's the one lady. She's gone now. I'm not doing it.

We want to go hang out along. My husband be smoking all the time. He's going to stink when he gets home. It's called smelling like man.

It's a man that is called being a man. That's right. Okay, well, are you excited? I'm going to Fort Wayne tomorrow.

Well, Indiana as a whole, there was no smoking cigars in Indiana before this, right? There was no smoking cigars at all in Indiana? It's a smokeless state. I thought it was.

Only California is smokeless. Have you ever heard of Riverside Cigars in Jeffersonville, Indiana? Oh, okay. So there's, no, it's a state under it.

What's the one under it? Kentucky? Yeah. You can smoke in Kentucky.

No, there's no smoking in Kentucky. You can't? Yeah, you can. I've been to a cigar lounge in Kentucky.

I remember when I was in Kentucky, there was... No, I don't think there was any cigar lounges. I went to one. Because I had to go over the bridge.

You were smoking there? Yes, I did. Were you allowed to, or you just did it? Well, they sold me a cigar, and I lit it up and sat with a bunch of other old men, and two very friendly gentlemen who kept trying to get me to drink liquor out of their locker.

Gotcha. I was like, "I don't have a loofah, gentlemen. " Oh. I know your tricks.

Yeah, I... I'm on to them. I'm on to them. Yeah, because I went and did like all the distilleries and everything.

It's just no smoking at the distilleries. Very flammable. Well, I just couldn't find a place. And then I...

Did you use your phone? No, I did. Yeah, and then when I... Cigar places near me?

Yeah, when I did the cigar places near me, it brought up Riverside, which I didn't put two and two together. Right? I went to Riverside and Skip was actually there. That's when...

Oh, first time you met her. His granddaughter was being born. Right. I couldn't believe that there, I found that cigar bar.

So you were stalking him? You saw on social media he was visiting his granddaughter? No, I just looked up on Google like... Where is Skip?

No, I thought it was weird that it said Indiana because I was in Kentucky. I was like, am I going to fucking drive to another state to go to a cigar bar? It's just across the line. Do you have a Find My Phone app of Skip so you know where he is at all the time?

Do you guys share locations? Maybe. Does he FaceTime you? He doesn't normally FaceTime dudes.

He FaceTimes me all the time. time yeah oh wow do you usually have a shirt on every time does he ask you to take it off no what's that like does skip have a shirt on maybe that's the question how does that make you feel this light thing is driving that's behind palmer it's fine and it's like a barney color it's just the way that it's attached i love you you love me let's all go back to sex therapy oh my god that's That's the song. That's the song he sings. That's his commercial for TV.

Oh, what if it was like a weird thing, like Baby Bop and all of them were like all-in-ca-hoots? They're all-in-ca-hoots, you know? Baby Bop? Bluey?

Bluey means something all completely different. Well, the one guy's name was BJ. Hmm. Oh, there you go.

Don't go to his therapy. Or maybe you should. Well, maybe. I guess so.

If you have a teal loofah. Yeah, I was gonna say, he's not a yellow dinosaur. He's teal now. All right, Viaje announces new one-of-one line.

They have one cigar. and it's just one. Biahe has announced that it has a new line heading to stores next week and while there are three Vitolas available, it's called One of One. Three of Three.

As is the norm for the company, blend details have not been announced nor has the company that made the cigars. Rather, the company said that the line stands as a testament to this age-old craft honoring the mastery passed down throughout generations. Every year of One is a unique creation So the Viaje 101 Tailwind, 6 3/4 by 52, the 101 Bulwark, 6 by 56, Viaje 101 Outer Edge, 5 1/4 by 54. Each size comes in boxes of 30 cigars.

Representative of the company told Cigar Hustler Podcast that there is no There's no MSRP for the line. There's no pricing. Are you getting these? Instead pricing is set by each retailer individually.

Oh, we could charge whatever we want. I don't think we're going to get this one. No? It's super expensive.

Oh, is it? Yeah. 40. 40, like the majority of Viaghe's other releases, it's a limited edition, with the company saying that less than 200 boxes of each size are being produced.

The company also said that this will be a one-time release, never to be seen again. One and done. One and done of the one-on-one. Cigars are scheduled to be available in stores on Friday, December 19th.

Yeah, but that's kind of Viaghe as a whole almost. I mean, it's usually one and done, right? No, they They repeat some blends every year, but it is a rather seasonal cigar, I believe. Oh, okay.

They come out with Christmas LEs, they come out with Halloween LEs, they come out with Thanksgiving LEs. You know what I like about VI is like they never say how the cigar is made or where, you know, they don't release any information. Yeah. They're pretty secretive.

But they have, I mean, their cigar is usually pretty good, you know, but they're every once in a while there's like a, there's one that's like eh, that one wasn't the greatest. Now they're not even saying what the price is. That's how secretive they've gotten. That's pretty high for a VI.

It's an expensive cigar. I think that's, that was why they didn't, because they wanted to see if, I guess, maybe the retailer would absorb some of the cost. Oh, that seems silly. And it wouldn't be, it wouldn't be Keystone anymore.

Look, you're, you're in these weird times. It's kind of turbulent, right? That's true. Nobody, nobody knew what was going to happen with the, the, the tariffs and, and the, and the taxation and all this stuff.

Where is it at now? 18% or is it 15%? It's 18. I think it's 18.

100% with, yeah, supposedly nothing's going up for another year. 18, yeah, but not with us because of CAFTA. Right, yeah, nothing's supposed to. Oh, that's right, I'm all confused about the CAFTA stuff.

Yeah, so CAFTA, we're blessed under the CAFTA. We are CAFTA. So we're always going to be 18? Yeah, as of right now, yeah.

Gotcha. So, you know, like that's still a big jump in your overall cost. So... But at least we're already there.

It's not like it's going to go up to 18. I've already had that happen. Well, it went up to 18 recently. Right.

It wasn't something that, you know... Well, I know it hasn't been for years. I understand that. But it's not like we're now waiting on some new impending increase.

Yeah. So, you know, I mean, you probably didn't know how it was going to drop. And it looks like it's a nice cigar. It looks like it's in, like, lovely little sleeves or whatever, in little cased, kind of on the box.

And it's a big box. It's a big box. Is each big box one blend? Yeah.

Oh. Gotcha. It's like three 30-count boxes or something. Ooh, wow.

Yeah. S. distribution to bring back SAG imports, or is it SAG? SAG imports?

Don't call it a comeback, Joya de Nicaragua and Quesada will once again be partnered in the American market. S. until 2008, When Drew Estate became Hoya's American distributor, an agreement that is coming to an end later this month. Going forward, SAG will once again be the American distribution company for both Hoya de Nicaragua and Quesada, though this time it's described as a joint venture between Quesada family and the Martinez family that own Hoya de Nicaragua.

Previously, SAG Imports was a distribution company for Quesada's brands, including Casa Magna. For us, the moment is a continuation of our family story, said Raquel. Is it Raquel? Raquel Quezada, president of Quezada Cigars, in a press release.

As the fifth generation to lead the business, my sister Patricia and I, oh, the two sisters, I remember that story now. And I feel a deep gratitude to the legacy we inherited and renewed desire to express our own voice within it. Joining forces with Hoya de Nicaragua through SAG allow us to honor where we come from while shaping what comes next, It's building a home where tradition and creativity inspire one another, and where every cigar carries a piece of our history and our hope for the future. Hmm.

Okay. Uh, there'll be three leadership roles in this new company: Joel Fernandez, National Sales Director; Maria Fernanda-Bizuzzi, Director of Administration Operations; and Christina Lazis, Marketing Director, USA. Notably, Fernandez and Cristina are both Hoya employees. Fernanda Pizzuzzi previously worked at Agonorsaleaf, the company has plans for eight more people to serve in sales roles and make sure both full-time staff and independent sales brokers is a story of mutual respect.

Blah-di-blah-di-blah. You know what would have been funnier? What? If Agonorsaleaf was handling distribution.

Because Terrence was at Quesada and then he moved over to Agonorsaleaf and then all of a sudden they started handling distribution. I think it's kind of weird that that that Hoya went away from Drew Estate did okay well why would Hoya let's try and connect the dots here why would Hoya go away from Drew Estate do you think that they money you think they were told that they decided on their own do you think that maybe what do you mean like maybe Drew Estate went we're done with you and maybe hey we don't hey you know we got enough going on here we can't uh you know we're not doing this yeah I mean I don't know I honestly don't know I'm just speculating yeah I mean the contract was up in the So, I mean, somebody made the decision. Yeah. " I mean, at some point, there's a question of, are both parties providing value?

And obviously, well, no, it's not obvious. In my opinion, Drew St. " It's like anything else, man. Like, we distro for a couple of people, and they just, sometimes, not all of them, Some people just think that, hey, here's the cigars and go get them.

Like, okay, wait, wait a second. Like, what are you doing to help us build a brand? What do you, you know, you got to put in some effort, too. Right, we're just distributing your brand.

And that could, maybe that's the case here with Hoya. I don't know, that's very possible. That they got lost in the Drew Estate giant megalodon that they are? It could be.

No, I think that what would happen is that people would buy Hoya just to support because they're in Drew Estate, you know what I mean? Like, alright, I got a relationship with my Drew Estate sales rep, he's asking that I buy these Hoya stuff, okay, you know? If you take Hoya off the shelf, is anybody gonna miss it? I don't know, probably not.

It's just like any other brand. I like the Antonio. Yeah, but I could turn you on to something else real quick, right? Well, yeah, I mean, yeah, I'm not going in there looking for an Antonio.

Right. Hmm. What do you think? I would imagine on the menu of things that a Drew Estate rep brings in, Hoya's down at the bottom.

I mean, there's so much other stuff in the portfolio. Right. So, you know, maybe it's down there, like, you know, the shop owner's going, "Look, I just spent 10 grand. " Or maybe Hoya felt like they weren't getting the attention they needed.

That's what I was trying to say earlier. Right. Right. They're getting lost in the, you know, in the mix of everything else.

In the ether that is Drew Estate. Right. Right. You know, we've got these infused, we've got the, uh, we've got the pigs, we've got this, we've got that.

Oh, yeah, by the way, I have this little red and green one over here, if you want to take a look at that. You think it's a good move for Quesada and Hoya to kind of join forces? I think it's a good move for Quesada. Which one is the bigger one?

Good question. That is a good question. That's a very good question. I don't know, per se, I would assume that Hoya's the bigger one.

Yeah, in my mind. But it's not by much, if it is. Right, it's not, you know, extremely well-known more than Quesada is. I can tell you, I haven't had, I probably had a Hoya before I've had a Quesada.

Yeah, Hoya's probably more catalog-based at this point, they're probably, you know, they probably have more. Well, Quesada is a bundle, right? No. Quesada's a what?

Bundle? No, it's usually Dominican cigars, which is also interesting. It's got a little weird shape and leaf, part of their logo. Yeah.

Hmm. I don't think I've ever smoked one. Yeah, I mean, I know I had to have had, but I couldn't tell you what it was or when I did it. Yeah.

Hmm. Hmm. It's very interesting. What's funny is, you know, I remember when Pete Hernandez was repping Quesada, and we took on, like, the Howitzer, and they had a couple of these other blends and stuff, and, like, nothing I ever really tracked.

It's, like, it's tough, man. It is a tough industry. So, you know, I don't know, wishing the best, I hope that this works out, I don't know, I don't know if it does, I don't know if it does, like, who's in charge? Like, they're building a company?

They're building a company, and they've got, it sounded like they've got a couple of Quezada people, and then the one lady from Agrenorsa, nobody from Hoya is in the mix, so what happens there? I don't know. You know, is Quezada the favored son in this little, you know, duet? Yeah, who knows?

Push the cassata. Fuck the boy, you guys. We don't know. It sounds kind of, you're very.

Very aggressive tonight. Yeah. A lot of curse words from you today. A lot of curse words.

Should be interesting. We'll see how this kind of plays out throughout the years. Leave them all out. Say lovely things.

Okay. All right. All right, now it's time for everybody's favorite game. What's the score?

Oh, that was so good, guys. Thank you very much. All right. The first cigar of the day, it is a recently reviewed cigar from December 13th, 2025 by Patrick, the Black Label Trading Company Cigar Limited Edition Nicaragua reviews the Black Works Studio Killer Bee Connecticut Pyramid, another cigar from the giant box of assorted cigars, Killer Bee Pyramid, Connecticut Pyramid.

We did one of these last week, but it was not this specific cigar, but it was another cigar from the mix. I tried to do the most recently reviewed cigar on a Monday. Okay, I'm gonna say 85. 82.

Okay, the cigar reviewed is the Killer Bee Connecticut Pyramid from Nicaragua, Factory, Fabrica, Oveja Negra, Wrapper, Ecuadorian Connecticut, and Maduro. Binder, Nicaraguan Habano, Filler, Nicaraguan, it's a 5x54 round, MSRP is $13, release date October 2025, number, we don't care how many they made, but we smoke three of these as the review, 85, 82. First clue, the Killer Bee Connecticut Pyramid really delivers once lit, offering an amped up Connecticut profile and live Lively Black Pepper, Toast, and Grain Notes, The Retro Hail shines throughout the cigar, adding brightness and complexity without becoming overpowering, and its flavor consistently sits at an enjoyable medium to medium plus. 86.

I'm gonna win this one. I'm gonna win this one. Yeah? Yeah.

You're too tired. Why did you yawn and say 86? No, it was a heavy deadlift day. You haven't seen him sleeping?

No, it's deadlift day, he sleeps on deadlift day. Oh. I need a nap. Um, 82, I'm not changing.

82, 86 is what we're at? Yep. Clue number two. Construction is excellent to cross all samples with solid combustion.

Uh-oh. An easy cold draw despite the covered foot and no major burn issues through most of the cigar. The blend maintains good balance, and the pepper-forward character carries the profile effectively from start to finish. 88.

85. Clue number 3. The final third feels a bit underwhelming as the cigar becomes too slender to fully deliver. The depth and complexity seen earlier, flavors simply simplify, notably in combustion, can require more frequent puffing, Making the endless ending less satisfying compared to the strong first half.

Oh, I need to make note, I am puffing more than I need to. Did you die? I look like you were dead over there for a minute. That's a good 30 seconds right there.

I'll read slower next time. 89. 86. Ooh.

Final thought. The Black Works Studio Killer B, Connecticut Pyramid is pretty much exactly what I expected, a ramped-up blend that shows Brown's leanings while remaining rooted in a profile marked by Ecuadorian Connecticut Seed Wrapper, shown off in a unique Figurado Vitola that gets dressed up with some decorative stripes. This is a cigar where style meets substance and that is both attractive and easy to enjoy. Even if it doesn't exceed my expectations, the flavor starts off on a solid note, but never really developed something I suspect was hindered by the tapering ring gauge, which seems better suited to concentrate the flavor rather than developing them.

It's still a very enjoyable blend. " More Than The Blend Can Offer. 88. Is it more, or is it less than 88, or did I nail it?

89. Wait, you said 88, he said 89? Yep. 90!

Yes! I took the gamble. He snucked it out. This guy likes Black Label, I guess, because the last one was high, too.

Sometimes he does, sometimes he doesn't. You guys now play, you're not playing against the score, you're playing against each other. You do, well, sometimes. Well, at the end, we're kind of playing against each other, right?

But throughout the thing, like, you got to kind of be in the realm. Look, what happens is, if the score gets tight, and you can't pinpoint it, Like, I thought it went down. That's why it went 88. Right.

If you can't pinpoint it, then you got to say, is it more or is it less than this one? And that's where you slide in close to it, right? So, you know. Yeah, it's hard because, too, there's no consistency in these guys' numbers.

Oh, yeah, no, there's nothing. So there is no, like, oh, this could definitely be a 90. No, it's like, man, last time this guy rated this shit a 93, He said terrible things about him. Right.

All right, the next cigar is from 2010. Okay. Reviewed by Brooks Whittington. Brooks again.

The cigar is a Davidoff Dominican Republic limited edition reviews, a Zeno Chateau. Oh, 90. Okay. You got 90s?

Yeah, 90. 75. You don't think he likes Davidoff? Nope.

I thought he loves Davidoff. I thought he loves Davidoff. All right, let's go Palmer. Cigar Review to Zeno Chateau, a country of origin, Dominican Republic, Factory, OK Cigars.

Hey. Rappers, Ecuadorian, Connecticut, Binder, Dominican, Orlo, Filler, Dominican Republic, Criolo, Piloto, Cubano, and San Vincent. The length is five inches by 50. It is a Robusto.

50. They smoked three. 7, oh, you got it. No, I'm first.

Um, I'm not changing. No, I'm first. I'll still get 90 right now. There's nothing really to change.

Okay, with 90, bing bong. Bing bong. 75. The Xeno Chateau is a nice looking cigar with a light brown wrapper and slightly box pressed.

The wrapper smells great with a combination of manure, pepper, and dark chocolate. It is well packed and gives a bit, and gives a bit when squeezed. It has a nice cap on the end, but does seem a bit light for the size in Vatola. The cold draw is sweet, cedar, and espresso.

Now, this one was very easy to pick out the thing because there is only three paragraphs in the entire review. And I can't do the final score, the final thought, because he says the score in the final thought. Got it. Just bleep it out.

Nah, the way he writes it, it's a gimme. It's a giveaway. Okay. So this is the last one.

No, that was the first clue. There's still two more clues. Oh, okay. 85.

78. It starts out with a surprising amount of spice and slightly noticeable notes of cedar, leather, and earth. Unfortunately, it also has an almost overwhelming bitterness that turns all the aforementioned flavors rancid. Seventy-five, yeah, I mean, that sounds horrible.

Seventy-four. This continues until the third, till the last third, where the bitterness lets up a little, and I can taste just a bit of sweetness that is totally wasted after the first two thirds. Turn my palate into ashes. Trust me, but, oh, nope, there was only two.

That was the final thought. Hold on, let me make sure. No, it's not. All right, hold on.

Turned my palate into ashes. Trust me, if I was not reviewing the cigar, I would have pitched it a long time before that. Boots? 68.

This is your final vote, gentlemen. Oh, wait, this is the final vote? This is the final vote. I can't read the final thought until after.

Oh, I thought you said there was one more. There's a final thought, but I can't read that until afterwards, but I do have it. Oh, okay, wait, let me change that. God, he hates this cigar.

I feel like he said it, so. Seventy. Is it more or less than 70? Sixty-nine.

Oh, he thinks it's less. Forty-eight. Yeah. I figured it was going to be a bad one, because, I mean, he just completely trashed it.

And he won a tie. So let's hear the final thought. What do you say? Okay.

While I have loved a few and have been disappointed by a few Dominican Davidoffs in the past, to say this is a bad cigar would be slandering the word bad. Wow. While I could taste some flavors while smoking all three samples, albeit fairly boring flavors, anything that it could have been positive was totally annihilated by the bitterness and harshness. Honestly, I can't believe that this was even released as a blend.

It's so bad. I have had a few more and we'll be stashing them to see if they get any better, but I certainly won't be holding my breath. Yeah, it's because this cigar was made at Not Okay Cigars. In Not Okay Cigar Lotto Company.

All right, that's it, gentlemen. I don't know how long the show has because... It's about an hour. Was it?

Yeah. All right. Right, this has been episode 430. Can you believe that?

Boom, 430. We're doing five a week now, so we're just cranking them up. I feel like you said this a year ago. And apparently, Florida License Plates is a big deal.

Oh yeah, we're very, what's the word? Florida License Plates Kingpins? No, no, no, when something goes viral, we have gone viral with the Florida License Plates. Yep.

All right. So please, do another stupid law, State of Florida. Yes. All right, guys, thank you very much.

Bye. Bye. This Christmas Cigar Hustler has given away a massive 85-inch, 4K LED Insignia Fire TV. Make $100 in-store purchase and get one raffle ticket.

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Show Notes

On todays show

OIA Sees You!  We have cracked the code with The loofas!  A college coach was let go then went where he wasn’t welcomed The IRS Starts Making Stimulus Payments?  and then in cigar news  More Midwest Cigar Shops!  Viaje has just One of One and Joya and Quesada joins forces!  Then we round out the show with a What’s The Score!!